Businessman allegedly busted with gun on waist granted $200,000 bail

A 52-year-old businessman, who was recently arrested after police allegedly found him with an unlicensed firearm, was on Monday released on $200,000 bail when he appeared before a Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Rodney Raghubansee, a resident of Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, was arrested Saturday night on Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, Georgetown, following reports of a disorderly individual. He was later charged with being in possession of a Taurus .38 revolver without being the holder of a firearm licence. The weapon was reportedly discovered in the waist of his pants after police stopped and searched him.

During the court hearing, Raghubansee’s attorney asked that he be released on bail, stating that he was not aware of the weapon and denied having any knowledge of it. According to the attorney, Raghubansee had been at a bar on Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, when he got into a heated exchange with a group of men who later physically assaulted him. She told the court that her client had been drinking at the time, and as he tried to leave the venue, the men allegedly hurled threats, warning, “Watch and see what’s going to happen to you. You’re not going to get far.”
Shortly after the incident, Raghubansee reportedly left the bar and was on his way home when he was stopped by police officers.
The attorney emphasised that her client is a law-abiding businessman who operates a trading enterprise, dealing in the import and export of rugs, stones, and other goods. She said there were no fingerprints linking him to the weapon and that there was no confrontation with police, nor any video or eyewitness account proving he was in possession of the firearm.
She described Raghubansee as a contributing member of society who poses no risk to the public and assured the court that he was willing to comply with any conditions imposed. The prosecution raised no objections to bail, noting that the firearm had been recovered and lodged as part of the ongoing investigation.
The magistrate subsequently granted bail in the amount of $200,000 and ordered Raghubansee to return to court on August 13.